NovaLogic

Originally, NovaLogic worked on new versions of previously published games. Taito America was a major client of the company and most (if not all) of NovaLogic's earliest games were PC conversions of Taito arcade games. NovaLogic's 1992 game Comanche: Maximum Overkill was the first release that utilized the Voxel Space engine, which allowed for larger outdoor environments and more detailed terrain. The engine was conceived by electrical engineer Kyle Freeman. Freeman's engine stemmed from his earlier creations of medical technology.{{Cite magazine |last=Schuytema |first=Paul |date=July 1994 |title=The Wizard of Voxels |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=120 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=140–144 |access-date=February 9, 2021}} In addition, the cancelled CD-i sequel to Super Mario World, Super Mario's Wacky Worlds, was in development by NovaLogic. Due to the failure of the Phillips CD-i platform, the project was cancelled in 1993.{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/read-this-a-peek-into-the-making-of-a-lost-mario-game-1798272166 |title=Read This: A peek into the making of a lost Mario game |work=The A.V. Club |last=Gerardi |first=Matt |date=September 17, 2014 |access-date=February 9, 2020}}

Comanche: Maximum Overkill kickstarted a string of releases by NovaLogic that simulated military battles. Other games included the F-22 plane simulators, Armored Fist tank simulators, and expanding the Comanche helicopter simulators. After releasing several successful military-themed games, the company started NovaLogic Systems, Inc. (NLS) on February 13, 1996. They were initially contracted by the US Army to create training simulations for the branch. In 1997, NovaLogic launched its free online matchmaking service, NovaWorld. The service allowed for large online battles and stat tracking.

In 1998, NovaLogic continued to evolve their Voxel Space engine for the inaugural game in the Delta Force series. The game was a first-person shooter set in large outdoor environments in a realistic military setting. It also featured the online NovaWorld system, which allowed for large numbers of players in a singular server. The game was well-received and it prompted the company to continue the franchise.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/197087-delta-force/index.html |title=Delta Force for PC |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=February 9, 2021}} Delta Force 2 was released in 1999, followed by Delta Force: Land Warrior in 2000. The trilogy of Delta Force titles were successful in the United Kingdom as indicated by ELSPA's chart. Delta Force peaked at #3 in February 1999, Delta Force 2 peaked at #2 in February 2000, and Delta Force: Land Warrior peaked at #1 in March 2001.{{cite magazine|title=Charts|magazine=PC Zone|publisher=Future plc|issue=101|date=April 2001|page=23}}

NovaLogic also ventured into space combat with Tachyon: The Fringe, featuring Bruce Campbell in the lead voice acting role. In 2001, the company released Comanche 4, the fourth and final game in the long-running series. NovaLogic, in collaboration with artist Gerald Brom, also planned to develop a PC fantasy first-person shooter entitled Necrocide: The Dead Must Die based on the Delta Force: Land Warrior engine; however, the game got cancelled in 2002.{{cite magazine|last=Hill|first=Steve|title=Necrocide|magazine=PC Zone|publisher=Future plc|issue=104|date=July 2001|page=42}}

Delta Force's first game on consoles was released in 2002, titled Delta Force: Urban Warfare for the Sony PlayStation. It was released late in the original PlayStation's life, in July 2002.{{cite magazine |author=EGM staff |title=Delta Force: Urban Warfare |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |issue=159 |date=September 2002 |page=162 }} The fourth main game in the series was released in 2003 as Delta Force: Black Hawk Down. The game was a success, and it sold over 100,000 copies in the United Kingdom alone while peaking at #2 on ELSPA's chart in April 2003. It was also the best-selling game for the month of April in the United States, peaking at #1 on NPD Techworld's chart.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamezone.com/news/delta_force_black_hawk_down_is_1_for_april_2003/ |title=Black Hawk Down is #1 for April 2003 |date=May 22, 2003 |work=Gamezone |access-date=February 9, 2021}}{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918063107/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php |title=ELSPA: Wii Fit, Mario Kart Reach Diamond Status In UK |author=Caoili, Eric |date=November 26, 2008 |work=Gamasutra |archive-date=September 18, 2017 |access-date=February 9, 2021}}

NovaLogic launched Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising in 2004, which was another first-person shooter similar to the Delta Force series, but the game had more focus on multiplayer. The company claimed to have set a world record for the "largest first-person shooter game",{{Cite web |url=http://pc.gamezone.com/news/06_15_04_07_35PM.htm |title=Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising at gamezone.com news |access-date=February 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312150421/http://pc.gamezone.com/news/06_15_04_07_35PM.htm |archive-date=March 12, 2007 |url-status=dead }} which was quickly refuted by Sony Online Entertainment for its game PlanetSide that had routinely hosted hundreds of players on a single server.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226025205/http://www.gamezone.com/news/07_07_04_01_57PM.htm |url=http://www.gamezone.com/news/07_07_04_01_57PM.htm |title=Correction |date=July 7, 2004 |work=Gamezone |archive-date=February 26, 2009 |access-date=February 9, 2021}} Ultimately the company settled for the title of "largest modern combat first-person shooter without a subscription".{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040918005407/http://www.gamezone.com/news/09_16_04_01_02PM.htm |url=http://www.gamezone.com/news/09_16_04_01_02PM.htm |title=Joint Ops: Escalation |date=September 16, 2004 |work=Gamezone |archive-date=September 18, 2004 |access-date=February 9, 2021}}

One year later, NovaLogic released Delta Force: Black Hawk Down for the PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Xbox consoles, developed by Climax Group. The port allowed up to 50 players in a multiplayer game, breaking the record for the largest console multiplayer battles at the time.[http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/7765/Black-Hawk-Down-to-Feature-50-Players-on-Xbox-Live/ Black Hawk Down to Feature 50 Players on Xbox Live at teamxbox.com news] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061210005443/http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/7765/Black-Hawk-Down-to-Feature-50-Players-on-Xbox-Live/ |date=December 10, 2006 }} That same year, NovaLogic was fined $153,500 by the Business Software Alliance after an audit found they had unlicensed copies of software by Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, FileMaker, Macromedia, Microsoft, and Symantec.[https://web.archive.org/web/20101109181303/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/7462/Delta_Force_Developer_NovaLogic_Fined_for_Software_Violation.php Delta Force Developer NovaLogic Fined for Software Violation at Gamasutra.com]

NovaLogic continued their flagship franchise with the fifth main game Delta Force: Xtreme in 2005. The company had taken elements from the initial 1998 Delta Force game and recreated them in Delta Force: Xtreme, with updated graphics and gameplay.{{cite web |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/delta-force-reloaded/627459p1.html |title=Review: Delta Force Xtreme |date=June 20, 2005 |work=GameSpy |access-date=February 9, 2021}} In 2008, publisher MTR Soft had displayed information about NovaLogic's then-upcoming title Delta Force: Angel Falls. In December 2008, NovaLogic announced they had cut ties with MTR Soft, due to MTR using the license to gain additional funds.{{cite web|url=http://www.softpressrelease.com/pressreleases/?id=756|title=NovaLogic Terminates MTR Soft License|date=December 4, 2008|publisher=Soft Press Release|access-date=December 5, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024144636/http://softpressrelease.com/pressreleases/?id=756|archive-date=October 24, 2012|df=mdy-all}} Also in 2008, NovaLogic released an alpha build of NovaWorld 2.0 that featured better performance and features. In June 2009, NovaLogic released the sixth main Delta Force game, titled Delta Force: Xtreme 2. It was released simultaneously at retail and online via digital download. The game's engine and features were extremely similar to the previous game Delta Force: Xtreme. It became the final game in the franchise, as Delta Force: Angel Falls was never completed. Delta Force: Xtreme 2 also ultimately became the final game released by NovaLogic. All titles released by the company afterwards were either compilations or re-releases.

In 2012, NovaLogic attempted to sue Activision for its usage of the Delta Force name within its game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, alleging that the usage would confuse consumers and would also damage NovaLogic's reputation. One year later, NovaLogic lost the case in court as the judge ruled in Activision's favor.{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013-06-27-judge-rules-in-favor-of-activision-in-delta-force-trademark-la.html |title=Judge Rules in Favor of Activision |date=June 27, 2013 |work=Engadget |access-date=February 9, 2021}} On October 31, 2016, it was announced that the game developer and publisher THQ Nordic had acquired all of NovaLogic's assets, while buying out Electronic Arts' minority stake.{{cite web|title=THQ Nordic Acquires All Of NovaLogic's Franchises|url=https://www.thqnordic.com/article/thq-nordic-acquires-all-novalogics-franchises|website=thqnordic.com|access-date=October 31, 2016}}{{cite magazine|last1=Donnelly|first1=Joe|title=THQ Nordic buys Delta Force and the rest of NovaLogic's back catalogue|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/thq-nordic-buys-delta-force-and-the-rest-of-novalogics-back-catalogue/|magazine=PC Gamer|access-date=November 1, 2016|date=October 31, 2016}} The NovaLogic name remained dormant after the purchase; however, THQ Nordic revived the Comanche name for a new game in the franchise, with an early access release in 2020.{{cite web |url=https://thqnordic.com/games/comanche |title=Comanche |work=THQ Nordic |access-date=February 9, 2021}}

In August 2023, Tencent revealed a revival of the series with Delta Force: Hawk Ops. It was described as a large-scale PvP first-person shooter with cross-platform support.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/delta-force-return-teased-full-reveal-at-gamescom-opening-night-live |title=Delta Force Return Teased |last=McCaffrey |first=Ryan |date=August 18, 2023 |access-date=August 21, 2023}}

{{Main|Voxel Space}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.novalogic.com/}}
• [http://www.mobygames.com/company/novalogic-inc/ listing of NovaLogic titles] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622181608/http://www.mobygames.com/company/novalogic-inc/ |date=June 22, 2008 }}

{{NovaLogic}}

{{THQ Nordic}}

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Category:1985 establishments in California

Category:2016 disestablishments in California

Category:Companies based in Calabasas, California

Category:Video game companies established in 1985

Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2016

Category:Video game companies based in California

Category:THQ Nordic

Category:Defunct video game companies of the United States

Category:Video game development companies

Category:Video game publishers

Category:Defunct companies based in Greater Los Angeles